Eggplant is a very low calorie vegetable and has healthynutrition profile; good news for weight watchers! The veggie ispopularly known as aubergine in the western world.

Nutrition values

Eggplant is very low in calories and fats but rich in solublefiber content. 100 g provides just 24 calories but contributesabout 9% of RDA (recommended daily allowance) of fiber.

Research studies conducted at the Institute of Biology of SãoPaulo State University; Brazil suggested that eggplant iseffective to control high blood cholesterol.

The peel or skin (deep blue/purple varieties) of aubergine hassignificant amounts of phenolic flavonoid phyto-chemicalscalledanthocyanins.Scientificstudies have shown that these anti-oxidants have potential healtheffects against cancer, aging, inflammation, and neurologicaldiseases.

Total antioxidant strength measured in terms of oxygen radicalabsorbance capacity (ORAC) of aubergines is 993 µmol TE/100 g. Atvalue 15; they are one of the low glycemic index (GI) vegetables.

It contains good amounts of many essential B-complex groups ofvitamins such as pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), pyridoxine(vitamin B6) and thiamin (vitamin B1), niacin (B3). Thesevitamins are essential in the sense that body requires them fromexternal sources to replenish and required for fat, protein andcarbohydrate metabolism.

Further, this vegetable is an also good source of minerals likemanganese, copper, iron and potassium. Manganese is used as aco-factor for the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase.Potassium is an important intracellular electrolyte helps counterthe hypertension effects of sodium.